Now begins the annual flurry of press releases that I'll be getting in advance of the upcoming San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC). With each news item, I'll be feeling twinges of regret for not being able to attend this year. (Cue the sad trombone.) I'll be missing the fanfare, the fervor and seeing all the cool stuff that will be on sale! For example, there's always something new for Star Wars fans in the Lucas Pavilion, one of my fave areas at the convention. I've purchased many action figures and LEGO sets there. And I've also grabbed a few of the plush toys that are always on display from Comic Images, a long-time SDCC attendee. So, it saddened me even more when I received these images of the newest toys that they'll have on sale at Comic-Con. Check out the gallery (above) and the following press release. And tell me that the Bantha Plush isn't the cutest thing you've ever seen!:

COMIC IMAGES RETURNS TO THE LUCAS PAVILION AT COMIC-CON WITH ITS COMPLETE ARRAY OF STAR WARS PLUSH

MONTVALE, NJ – July 2, 2013 – Comic Images returns to the Lucas Pavilion at Comic-Con for a seventh year, featuring a complete STAR WARS plush display, including three brand new lines that are launching this summer: STAR WARS Creatures, STAR WARS Rag Dolls and STAR WARS Back Pals.

“Comic-Con is a unique situation as it allows our fans to see, touch and feel our products first-hand, often just at the point they are being shipped for retail sale,” said Alan Gordon, president of Comic Images. “We are particularly excited to see how fans take to our new Creatures, a line we developed at their request, and the new Back Buddies, a brand new take on our wildly popular Back Pal series.”

In addition, while all the new products will be available throughout the event, each day Comic Images will feature a “Fan Special” that offers one of the new lines at a reduced price.

“During the many years we have attended Comic-Con and been part of the Lucas Pavilion, we’ve developed wonderful relationship with the fans,” he said. “We go back each year to see old friends and to meet new attendees, and we thought the Daily Special would be a nice way to acknowledge our fan support over the years.”

Each Daily Special is specific to the day on which it is scheduled, and available on a first-come/first-served basis. For a schedule of the specials, Gordon encourages attendees to stop by the booth and pick up flyer, or to visit www.comicimages.com beginning on or about July 8, 2013.

Iconic & Creative Products Await

In a flurry of activity, three new lines and one new line extension will debut at Comic-Con, including:

STAR WARS Creatures, a line of 10” plush featuring four of the iconic characters, including the beast-of-burden Bantha, carnivorous Rancor, snow lizard Tauntaun and icey Wampa. Each is made from soft, huggable materials, lending comfort (but watch your fingers and toes!) to each owner and can be purchased as a collection or as gifts.

STAR WARS Rag Dolls, a unique interpretation of traditional rag dolls featuring famous STAR WARS characters. The 7” plushes are made of safe, all-new materials and feature tremendous attention to detail. The line includes Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Yoda and Stormtrooper and are attractive to children ages 2 to 200 (as lifespans are longer in the Star Wars universe.)

STAR WARS Back Pals, an extension of the highly successful Back Buddy line, featuring Darth Vader and Yoda. For those who wish to strap on their STAR WARS passion for the world to see, these are plush, squared and fully padded to protect tablets, phones and other electronics as well as books, wallets and more. Crafted to show fully formed features, and with adjustable straps making them suitable for all ages, the Back Pals are sure to stop people in their tracks to ask, “Where did you get that backpack?!” And, continuing the tradition of introducing Star Wars characters as Back Buddies is the new 24” long Wampa Back Buddy, the newest member of that line.

Comic-Con attendees can see and hold all the new products at the Comic Images display at Comic-Con, Booth 2913B in the LUCAS PAVILION.